Sharps blade applicator and storage device

ABSTRACT

A device for the application and storage of a sharps device is disclosed here in with the ability to re-sterilize and reuse this device on multiple occasions. This device enables the user to access and store the blade in a safe manner where the chances of accidental puncture are greatly reduced. The device enables the user to store the sharps blade in the device in such a manner that will allow the user to autoclave or sterilize the storage device and the blade at the same time. The device is designed for multiple uses over a wide range of different blades, such as the myriad of surgical blades and blades used in the hobby and crafts arena using X-Acto knife style of blades. When a singular device is used for the storage, application and re-loading of sharps, the user is more familiar with the operation of the device, which leads to more comfort of the user in dealing with sharps blades. Also since the operating room has minimal space to store the necessary tools and devices, when a single device can have multiple uses it is advantageous and space saving.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application does not claim benefit of a prior application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention covers the field of application where a sharps blade isbeing transported and getting ready for the user to place a sharp onto ahandle. This is particularly applicable to the health care industrywhere scalpel blades are needing to be attached to handles. It iscritical to prevent accidental punctures to have the sharp's bladecovered during this application process. Currently few options exist forthis dangerous practice.

SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART AND STATE OF THE ART

Traditionally, the scalpel blade is packaged individually in sterilepouches. Typically, the medical personnel will open the pouch and letthe blade fall into a sterile field as reaching into the pouch to removethe blade would have a high probability of accidental puncture. Once theblade is loose in the sterile field, the personnel will use a clamp or aneedle driver to pick up the blade very carefully along the spine of theblade in order to prevent any contact with a sharps portion of theblade. This is particularly difficult with a small scalpel blades suchas a number 11 or a number 15.

Another method for the arming of a scalpel, is where the pouch is ownedand the user then clamps onto the blade and removes it from the pouchand then inserted onto the handle. This is a dangerous operation as auser's hand is right next to the exposed sharps blade. It is also a verypoor practice, though one that is often used, is to use the pouch fromwhich the blade is stored, as the insertion device. It is not anuncommon sight to see one using the pouch as a cover for the sharp fordirect attachment by hand of the sharps blade onto the handle. This is avery dangerous and ill advised method as the sharp can easily puncturethe pouch and thereby puncture the user. The same is true in thedisarming of the scalpel or sharps device. It is also ill advised to usethe pouch as the blade protector or as the user attempts to remove thesharps from the handle. The preferred method is to use the needle driveror clamp to remove the blade from the sharps handle. Now you have ablade that is exposed being moved about without any form of protectionthereon, which presents a whole new set of dangerous circumstances inthe operating room.

To get around the problems associated with using the pouch style ofblade delivery, some manufacturers have created a cartridge devicewhereby the cartridge contains a sharps blade already inserted from thefactory. The manufacturer of the cartridge is required to assemble thecartridge and insert the sharp into the cartridge. This is a dangerousprocess and it is done at the manufacture and not at the place where thesharp is being used. The cartridge with the sharp is usually made of aplastic material which is then sterilized and placed into a sterilepouch. The user then extracts the cartridge from the pouch using theirhand as the sharp is completely encased. The cartridge is placed ontothe handle and the cartridge is now completely encasing the sharpsblade. Some of the cartridge devices can also be used in the disarmingof the device. The problem with using the cartridge style device, isthat unique or proprietary handles must be used in order to access theblade within the cartridge device. An example of a product with anon-standard blade is U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,771 issued to Herbert et al onFeb. 9, 1999. Furthermore, using the cartridge device does not allow forthe user to load and reuse the device that is protecting the sharps orwhat would be called the loader or armer of the handle. The cartridgestyle does lend itself to be a disposal instrument but is not reusable.

Some of the cartridge blade loaders have incorporated a safety shielddesign whereby the cartridge becomes a safety shield that protects theuser from accidental puncture. This type of device is disclosed in theU.S. Pat. No. 7,207,999 issued to Gaba et al on Apr. 24, 2007, Thisdesign only works with the specified handles such that the loader mayalso function as the safety shield. One cannot take any scalpel handleand it be incorporated into the safety shield design. The safety shieldstyle of cartridge loader has unique handles that are usually not foundin non-cartridge loading handles which precludes its universal useamongst various scalpel handles.

Another style of blade loader is a universal loader with a neckassembly. The current state-of-the-art is detailed in Southmedic's CaboSafety Scalpels product line and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,567,072and 7,669,337 issued to Yi et al. This type of blade loader is similarto a cartridge type design that'll work universally with existingscalpel handles. With this device the tang of the sharp, which is theand opposite of the piercing point of the sharp, is permanently attachedonto a post or fence which is not a part of the sharp's handle. Thispost is then attached as a secondary piece to the existing handle. Theproblem associated with this style of blade loader is that the scalpelnow has an extension anywhere from ½ inch almost 2 inches in length.This additional piece will throw off the balance or weighting of thehandle. Additionally since scalpels are often used in areas that aredelicate or confined in nature, the additional length is detrimental tothe functioning of the scalpel. The one advantage of the system is thatit is able to be used with a variety of scalpels especially those thatare common in the industry as it is the post that is modifiable to anystyle of scalpel. It needs to be noted that surgeons, or others that youscalpels, often develop a certain liking to a particular scalpels handledue to its balance, waiting, tactile feel, and length of the scalpel.Thus it is important to maintain the surgeons feel in the use of thescalpel.

Another style of blade loader is the style that is presented in thisdisclosure. This incorporates both the universality of using existingscalpel handles but it also incorporates features that prevents theuser's hand from being near the sharps portion of the blade. An exampleof this style of blade loader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,162issued to Magney on Dec. 25, 1979. This device is enclosed box where theuser inserts a blade handle to retrieve a blade and then reinserts thebladed handle to remove the blade. This is a single use device notsuitable for multiple use and does not prevent the contact of the sharpsportion of the blade from contact with the lower surface or walls of thedevice, thereby damaging and dulling the sharp. Prior art also containsdisclosure such as from U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,902 to Abidin, U.S. Pat. No.4,746,016 to Pollack et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,162 to Magney and U.S.Pat. No. 5,363,958 to Horan, where arming devices exist. But either theymust use proprietary handles, do not expose the Tang portion of theblade enabling connection to the blade from the tang directly or do notallow for multiple uses and sterilizing through common means.

As mentioned previously there are other sharps devices other thanscalpels that can be used with this current applications disclosedinvention. In examining the prior art there it are examples that areapplicable only to scalpel handles, such as the aforementioned cartridgeloaders, but none of the aforementioned style of blade loader can workwith any other style of sharps such as an X-Acto knife. And X-Acto kniferequires the tang of the blade to be accessible, which is not possiblewith the cartridge style or neck style of blade loaders. The currentdisclosed invention enables the user to have a blade loading devicewhich incorporates an open design whereby the user is able to reuse theloader for future uses. The blade is also held in such a manner toprevent accidental puncture of the user and also protects the sharpportion of the sharps device thereby preventing any nicks to the cuttingportion of the sharp. The disclosed invention is sterilizable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention as disclosed herein is a universal blade applicator andstorage device which is capable of being used by many different types ofblades and provides access to the tang of the blade, which is the endopposite of the sharp point of the blade, which is used to interfacewith a handle that attaches to the blade to become a sharps cuttingtool. This device can be used for a wide variety of scalpel blades, andis designed to allow the user to see though the device through multipleportals to identify the contents of the device and to assure that theblade is properly located in the device without contact therewith. Thedevice is also used with craft style sharps, such as X-Acto style ofblades thereby creating a universal device for the most common useddetachable sharps tool. Accordingly, it is the goal of this invention tocreate the device whereby one is protected from accidental puncture by asharps blade. Whether that sharps blade be in a hospital setting orsimply in an arts and crafts settings within X-Acto blade, the user mustbe protected in the insertion or attachment of the blade onto thehandle.

It is an object of this invention to create a device that has oneopening where the tang of the blade is exposed to allow access duringthe insertion of the handle as well as to enable the user to reload theblade loader within the sharp.

It is an object of this invention to create a device whereby a sharpsblade can be stored using the same device that will be used for itsapplication onto a handle, with said storage device holding the blade insuch a manner as to preclude damage to the sharp edge portion of theblade.

It is an object of this invention to create an applicator so that theusers hand and fingers are not at risk of accidental puncture while asharps blade is being inserted into the appropriate handle and that thisapplicator can be reused for multiple styles of blades as well as formultiple occasions for use.

It is also an object of this invention to create a device that can beused to store a sharps blade in a safe manner, which is capable of beingautoclaved or sterilized with the blade in the device.

It is also an object of this invention to have a single device that canbe used to store the sharps blade, to aid the user in applying the bladeonto the handle, thereby also creating a single device with multipleuses which, in the crowded operating trays, is advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1, the left side of the one-button embodiment is shown on in aplan elevation view.

In FIG. 2, the right side of the one-button embodiment is shown in aplan elevation view.

In FIG. 3, the rear elevation view of the one-button embodiment isshown.

In FIG. 4, the frontal elevation view of the one-button embodiment isshown.

In FIG. 5, the top elevation view of the one-button embodiment is shown.

In FIG. 6, the bottom elevation view of the one-button embodiment isshown.

In FIG. 7, the right side elevation view is shown with the addition of ascalpel that has been inserted to show the product in use.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the one-button embodiment where a scalpel hasbeen inserted. FIG. 8 also shows the cross-sectional line that'll beseen in FIG. 9

In FIG. 9, a cross-section view of the one-button body embodiment isshown with a scalpel that has been inserted to show the product in use.The view is from the left side of the device toward the right side ofthe device.

FIG. 10 is an oblique rear left side elevation of the one-button devicewith the blade inserted showing the relationship between the sharp andthe device.

FIG. 11 is a left side elevation view of the one-button embodiment witha scalpel that has been inserted.

FIG. 12 is a left side oblique elevation view of the two buttonembodiment of the device with a scalpel being held in place.

FIG. 13 is a left side elevation view of the two button embodiment ofthe device.

FIG. 14 is a right side elevation view of the two button embodiment ofthe device.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the two button embodiment of the device withthe scalpel in place.

FIG. 16 is a bottom elevation view of the two button embodiment of thedevice with the scalpel in place.

FIG. 17 is a frontal elevation view of the to button embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 18 is a rear view elevation of the two button embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 19 is a top view elevation of the two button embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 20 is a bottom elevation view of the two button embodiment of thedevice.

FIG. 21 is a right side elevation of the two button embodiment of thedevice and details the cross-sectional dividing lines for views in FIGS.22 and 23.

FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view detailing the button area.

FIG. 23 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the button area.

FIG. 24 and is a rear view of the two-piece embodiment of the device.

FIG. 25 is an frontal oblique bottom view of the two-piece device withthe top portion hinged open and a blade inserted to show therelationship between the blade and the interior of the device.

FIG. 26 is a bottom view without the blade shall in of the two-pieceembodiment with the top portion hinged open.

FIG. 27 is a rearward oblique bottom view of the two-piece embodimentwith the blade inserted to show the detail between the blade and theinterior of the device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention as disclosed in the drawings has the principle use in thesurgical environment but there exists no limiting language to preventthis invention to be practiced in other fields of use. The inventionconsists of two main elements, an insertion section and a sharpsretention section. This invention is detailed with the use of a sharpsdevice, such as a scalpel, but its use is not limited to scalpel as anysharps device with a detachable blade is disclosed by this application.

FIG. 1 is the left side plan elevation view of one embodiment of theinvention. This embodiment has a singular button 103 to hold the sharpin place once inserted into the device. Device 100 consists of ananterior section 110 and a posterior section 111. The anterior sectionof device 100 consists of a gripping area with anti-slip means which iscontoured to accept a user's thumb and forefinger. Left side ribs 101and right side ribs 102 are but one of the anti-slip mechanisms that canbe used which could also include a ribs, cross-hatching, knurling and atextured surface sections. Ribs are preferred but are not exclusive.Also in the anterior section 110 is button 103 which also contains ananti-slip feature 104, on the exterior side of button 103, which aidsthe user in an environment where fluids are often present. Anti-slipfeature 104 in this embodiment has the same ribs as was shown on in ribs101 and 102. Button 103 is attached to the proximal and using a livinghinge 106. On the interior side of button 103 is wedge surface 105 whichis set off from the interior surface through wedge 107. Wedge 107 isdesigned to be an angular section whereby wedge surface 105 is locatedpast the center point of the interior of device 100. This can be seen inFIG. 3 which highlights that wedge 107 and wedge surface 105 in arelaxed non-use state are as past the centerline of the device. When theuser inserts the sharp into the device, it is the living hinge 106resistance to an outward bending moment which creates the force offriction to hold the blade within the device. By design of hinge 106,there is a resistive force to the displacement of the button 103 oncethe sharp has been inserted. FIG. 4 shows that button 103 extends outfrom the left side rib area 101. Anterior end 110 in this invention isshown as a rounded surface but this invention is not limited to arounded surface. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are top and bottom views respectivelywhich shows that ribbed section 101 and rib section 102 have a concaveshaped surface which enables the user to more firmly grip the device.

This device has four opposing lower blade holding features and threeupper blade holding features located in the interior portion of thedevice. Each of said blade holding features are independent and areconstructed to be rigid enough to resist the out word bending of thefeature as the blade is inserted such that the blade is held in placedue to the resistive nature of the feature. Said features are counteropposing one another and also define interior blade slot 140. Slot 140is defined as entrance 141 upper slot 142 which is defined by the threeupper blade holding features and a lower slot 143 that are defined bythe four lower blade holding features. Upper slot 142 is located alongthe interior side of upper rail 160. The four lower blade holdingfeatures in this invention are shown in by feature 152, 155, 154 and 157in series and each of said features and then aids from the lower rail151. Each said lower blade holding features has a sharps bladesecurement means. In this disclosure the blade sharps blade securementmeans are a series of detent ribs which are located parallel to thespine of the blade. A detent rib makes contact with and holds the bladein position. The detent ribs are respectively 153, 156, 158 and 159. Thedistance between the counter opposing lower ribs create a gap wherebythe blade is held firmly and the lower blade features bending momentwill secure the blade within the slots. It is important that the detentsdo not create a resistive slot thereby possibly touching the sharpsportion of the sharp thereby possibly damaging the edge that is criticalto the smooth cutting of the sharp. The lower blade holding featurescontact the middle portion of the sharp approximately equidistant fromthe spine to the lower sharp edge of the blade. Upper rail 160 has threeupper blade holding features 162 164 and 166 in series and each detentfeature has an associated detent rib respectively 161, 163 and 165. Itis critical that the upper rail 160 is located so that there does notexist any possible contact between the sharps portion of the blade withany of the interior portions of the device, so that there must be a voidarea of no less than 0.035″ where the blade is not in contact with anyfeature of the device to prevent damage to the sharp edge of the blade.

FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the device where a sharp bladehas been inserted into the device. Viewing portal 180 details a viewingwindow which can be defined in any embodiment such that the tip of theblade is visible. The purpose for this is to show that the tip of theblade is not in contact with any perpendicular surface which could havethe potential to dull the tip of the blade FIG. 8 is a top planelevation view where a sharps blade has been inserted into the device.Another purpose is to be able to identify the sharps blade that iscontained therein. As this single device in this embodiment can be usedfor a variety of blades, it is critical that an identification means isused to enable the user to identify the correct blade to use. Across-sectional line defines the view seen in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows wedgesurface 105 in contact with the sharps blade to show that the positionof the wedge surface is critical that it is not touching any of thesharp portions of the blade. FIG. 9 also shows that the upper and lowerblade features do not contact the blade along any of the sharp portionsof the blade. It can be seen that the tang of the blade is accessible inthis device so as not to preclude any form of handle, such as an X-Actoblade handle, that requires access to the entire tang portion of theblade in order to secure it into the handle. It is one of the featuresof this device to present a device that is sterilizeable while the bladeis inserted into the device. Sterlization can take place repeatedlyusing an autoclave, ethylene oxide, gamma radiation or similarsterilization methods. The design of the device is devoid of internalvoids or pockets which would make sterilization difficult.

In the operation of this device the user inserts the blade ensuring thatthe spine of the blade is in contact with the upper rail 160. Due to thenature of this design there is no chance for the sharp portion of theblade to be in contact with any of the detents or the holding wedgewhich precludes any contact of the sharp portion of the blade to avoidpossible lead damage to it. It is further noted that there will be noless than a 035″ inch gap between the sharps portion of the blade in theinterior portion of lower rail 150. When the user needs to use thesharps blade, the user using a forefinger and thumb grasping method,holds the device, whereby the user will apply pressure onto button 103so that forward progress of the blade will be prohibited. The operatorwill insert the holder of the handle into the Tang of the blade andusing a rearward motion, removes the blade by withdrawing the blade fromthe device. In this embodiment, the entire tang is accessible forattachment onto a handle and all 4 sides of the tang are exposed forease of access and to adapt to a variety of blades. As aforementioned,this device can be used for sharps other than for the style of asurgical scalpel where one has a holder which interrelates to the Tangof the blade. This device can be used for those other sharps holdersusing the same withdrawal action once the handle is secured to theblade. It is an important advantage of this device to have the samedevice capable of being reused with having to use a secondary loadingoperations.

FIG. 12 shows the left side of the two-button embodiment of thisinvention 200, where this embodiment is similar in feature and conceptas the one button, but where there are at least two buttons that holdthe sharps blade in place once inserted into the device. In thisembodiment device 200 has two counter-opposing button wedge surfaceslocated in the anterior portion of this embodiment. As with the onebutton device where one button provides friction through contact andpressure onto the blade to prevent movement, the two button device hastwo opposing button wedge devices 251 on the left side and 260 on theright side where the opposing wedge surfaces 255 and 265 respectivelyact together to hold the blade through friction and resistive pressure.The anterior end 210 is shown as a rounded surface but does not precludea flat surface so that this device could be stored or used in a standingor vertical position. The finger gripping area located near the anteriorend 210 has a ribbed surface 271 on the left side and 270 on the rightside where said surfaces are contoured to accepted a user's finger andthumb. As before in this embodiment, ribs are shown that will increasethe anti-slip properties so that the user's fingers do not move. Thissame concept can be approached by using a gnarled area or a roughenedarea. This is important as the user is generally using this device andan environment where fluids are present. The posterior end 280 has adefined upper rail 260 and a lower rail 250 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16this embodiment has a single pillar 258 located on lower rail 250 andnear the distal and the pillar serves as a guide and also serves as arest with post 252 and post shelf 259 once the blade is inserted throughslot 275. FIG. 18 shows a rearview of the posterior end of the device.In this embodiment there are at least two blade holding features inseries. As disclosed, the upper rail 260 has a single blade holdingfeature located on the left side 262 and a blade holding feature on theright side 273 located in the interior portion of the device. The upperrail 260 shall hold the device with no less than 0.035″ inch of a voidarea between the sharp portion of the blade and the interior portion oflower rail 250. Each blade holding feature has a sharps blade securementmeans as in the previous embodiment, which are shown as detent ribs thatare located parallel to the spine of the blade. The detent ribs 262 and274 respectively makes contact with only the upper portion of the bladealong the spine of the blade as the blade is inserted into the devicealong upper interior rail 275. The spine of the sharp is the edge of theblade opposite the sharp edge of the blade. In this fashion the sharpedge of the blade is not in contact with any objects that could causedamage to the sharp blade. Guidance post 276 is placed to ensure thatthe blade will not deviate into the walls possibly damaging the sharpedge of the blade during insert and provides positive pressure of theblade against the detent ribs, securing the blade from movement. FIGS.22 and 23 detail the buttons used in the two button device. Each button251 and 261 are in contact at rest. Button 251 has hammer portion 255emanating perpendicular from button 251 which terminates in gripper 287.Likewise, button 261 has hammer 265 terminating in gripper 286. Shownhere, grippers 286 and 287 have multiple vertical ribs to increasesurface contact pressure and to minimize the area of contact with theactual sharps blade. This does not preclude other such friction means.Since button 251 and 261 are made of plastic material it is the naturalresistivity or elasticity of the plastic that will allow the buttons tobend outwardly as the sharp is inserted, and the natural resistivity ofthe plastic will hold the blade in place through friction.

In operation of the two button embodiment the user will insert the bladethrough slot 275 with a slight downward angle and then using post 252and post shelf 259 as a fulcrum will rotate upwardly the blade throughthe sharps blade securement devices. This will prevent the sharp portionof the blade from being damaged. This spine of the blade will be heldalong the detents to 262 and 274 and the body of the blade will be heldeither sharps blade securement devices 286 and 287. When the user wishesto withdraw the blade, the user grasps the anterior end of the deviceusing a thumb and forefinger, pressing upon each of the buttons 251 and261. The user orients the device whereby the blade holder portion of thehandle will interface with the exposed tang of the blade. The user thensimply inserts the holder of the handle into the Tang and withdraws theblade with an angular displacement towards the right side of the deviceenabling the tang of the blade to become removed from post shelf 259 andthen removes the blade in a rearward withdrawal action without havingthe sharp edge of the blade near any surface preventing the chance fordamaging the sharp edge.

FIG. 17 which is a view of the proximal end 210 of the device shows thatbuttons 251 and 261 extend all the way to the lower rail 250 so thatthis device is able to stand independent lady on a flat surface. Thisfeature is not critical it is a desired feature of this device. Thisdoes not preclude the concept of having the button taper into the bodyso that there does not exist any flat area associated with lower rail250. It is also noted that distal end 210 is rounded in this disclosurebut does not preclude a flattened distal and 210 which would allow thedevice to be in a vertical orientation for use. As with the otherembodiment it is critical that the user be able to see that the bladehas been inserted properly and that there is no contact with thesharpest portion of the blade. Viewing window 281 and viewing port 282serve the purpose of allowing the user to see that the sharps portionthe blade is not in contact with any portion of the device. Anotherpurpose is to be able to identify the sharps blade that is containedtherein. As this single device in this embodiment can be used for avariety of blades, it is critical that an identification means is usedto enable the user to identify the correct blade to use.

Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 24 through 27.This is a two-piece device that is similar in method and construction asthe aforementioned two button embodiment. The two pieces of this deviceare created by dividing the device along its longitudinal planar axisand separating an upper portion from the lower portion, and creating aninterior recess in each of the two halves. It is not critical that thedivided pieces are of the same length, as shown here in, only that aninterior recess is formed whereby the user is able to place the bladeinto the device rather than needing to insert the blade into the devicethrough the posterior opening. This creates a more safe method ofreloading and reusing the device. The front In this embodiment, the twopieces are either secured together as shown in FIG. 24 where 405 is aliving hinge—attaching the bottom portion 500 to the upper portion 400or it is also possible for upper portion 400 to have no connection tolower portion 500. Should upper portion 400 have no connection withlower portion 500, is anticipated that the upper portion 400 and or thelower portion 500 can be made with a different color to signify the typeof blade that is held therein. Upper piece 400 contains right sidebutton 351 with its associated wedge 355 and gripping element 387. Thistwo-piece and bought event has a rounded anterior and 310 and aposterior region 380 into which the blade will enter the device. Rail350 defines the bottom rail of the device and upper rail 360 whichcontains sharps blade securement device 363 and detent rib 362. As notedthat, similar to the two button embodiment, there are contoured areas371 and 372 which are on the right and left side of the anterior portionof the device 310, said contoured areas matching a thumb and forefingergrasp of the user 362, and contained as part of contour areas 371 and372, there is button 351 and button 361 respectively. Each button has anassociated wedge as well as a gripping element. Upper portion 400 doesnot incorporate the entire upper section in this design but nothingprecludes a two-piece device of this embodiment where the upper andlower portions are the same in length. In this embodiment upper sealingarea 401 mates with lower sealing area 501 along with sealing area 403interfacing with sealing area 503. Additionally, vertical wall ceilingarea 502 interfaces with a matching vertical ceiling wall 402. It isanticipated that once the blade has been inserted into the interior ofthe device, which is shown in open recess 404 of the upper portion 400and in lower recess 504 of lower portion 500, that the device will beclosed and also sonically welded thereby securing the blade inside ofthe device. In this method, the user is able to place the blade into thedevice rather than inserting the bladed through the anterior portion ofthe device. To make this product, sealing area 401 and 501 and sealingareas 403 and 503 can have small male to female interlocking posts as analternate securing means, not shown in the drawing, which will interfaceand will snap the upper portion 400 to the lower portion 500. The useris then able to unlock the upper portion from the lower portion reinserta new blade and repeat the method steps. This makes this device isreusable and is advantageous over the prior art in this fashion.

As with the two button embodiment, there exists pillar 358 whichemanates vertically at the end of rail 350 at the posterior end of thedevice 380. Associated with pillar 358 is post 352 which is shorter inlength than pillar 358 and thereby creates shelf 359 upon which theblade will rest once inserted. As with the two button device when theuser wishes to remove the blade, the tang of the blade is inserted intothe handle, and the user using a slight rightward motion moves the bladeoff of the shelf 359 and then removes the blade from the interior of thedevice. This slight rightward motion guarantees that the lower sharpportion of the blade will not come in contact with any interior orexterior sides of the device, thereby preventing damage to the sharpedge. Anterior end 310 is shown on as a rounded or curved surface. It isanother embodiment of this device is to have a flat surface so that thedevice stands vertically and the users able to use it in thatconfiguration or is able to stand the device up a very crowded operatingtray to reduce the space taken by the device. FIG. 26 shows the leftside button 361 with its associated wage 365 gripping means 386. Asshown previously in FIG. 23 the two gripping areas will meet when thedevice is in its rest position. Once a blade is present the buttons willnaturally bow out and their resistivity of the plastic will secure theblade in place. The presence and location of the blade can be confirmedby viewing the blade through portal 382 which is similar in shape andfunction as the viewing portal 282. Also it is noted that post 376serves as a guide as the blade is inserted into the device so that thetip of the blade will not jab which into any of the interior surfaces.As mentioned before with this two-piece device, the user is able toplace the blade rather than having to insert the blade into the device.

It can be appreciated by those appropriately skilled in the art thatchanges, modifications or embodiments can be made to this inventionwithout departing from the spirit, principles, theories, ideas orconceptions that have been disclosed in the foregoing. It is hereinrecognized that the embodiments disclosed by this description of thebest mode of practicing this invention, which will be hereafterdescribed in their full breadth in the claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A universal sharps blade application and storagedevice for a single sharps blade which secures said blade in anorientation to allow for attachment to a mounting handle, said sharpsblade having a spine portion, a sharp edge portion, a distal sharp pointconjoining said spine portion to said edge portion and a proximal tangportion comprising; an anterior portion being contoured to accept thefinger and thumb of a user, where said contoured anterior portioncontains gripping means, and where said anterior portion having at leastone resistive button, and an upper rail and a lower rail defining thevertical extremes of said device, and an interior portion having atleast one series of sharps blade securement means located for contactwith only said spine of said blade and said tang of said blade, andwhere the anterior portion of said device provides a void space of noless than 0.035 inch between said sharp edge and said interior portionso as to prevent any contact between said interior portion of saiddevice and said sharp edge portion of said sharp during storage orremoval of said sharp from said device, where said removal of saidsharps blade is accomplished by withdrawing said blade along an angulardisplacement path, and a posterior portion adapted for the insertion ofsaid blade thereinto said interior portion of said sharp and where saidposterior portion allows for the exposure of said tang of said sharp,and an exterior portion containing said gripping means and at least onecontinuous viewing portal extending through the entire device on an axisperpendicular to said blades axis, said portal exposing said sharp edgeof said blade to ensure that there is an absence of contact and so as toeasily identify the type of blade being secured therein.
 2. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 1 where said anterior portion is a flat surface to facilitate thevertical placement of said device upon a horizontal surface.
 3. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 1 where said anterior portion has a curved surface.
 4. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 1 where said gripping means is selected from the group consistingof ribs, cross-hatching, knurling and textured surface.
 5. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 5 where device is capable of being sterilized through anautoclave, gamma radiation or ethylene oxide sterilization process whilesaid blade is inserted into said device.
 6. A universal sharps bladeapplication and storage device for a single sharps blade which securessaid blade in an orientation to allow for attachment to a mountinghandle, said sharps blade having a spine portion, a sharp edge portion,a distal sharp point conjoining said spine portion to said edge portionand a proximal tang portion comprising; an anterior portion beingcontoured to accept the finger and thumb of a user and where saidanterior portion contains gripping means and where said anterior portionhaving at least one resistive buttons, and an upper rail and a lowerrail defining the vertical extremes of said device, and an interiorportion having a series of upper sharps blade securement means locatedfor contact with only said spine of said blade, and a series of lowersharps blade securement means located approximately equidistant betweensaid spine of said blade and said sharp edge, and where the anteriorportion of said device provides sufficient void space so as to preventany contact between said anterior portion of said device and said sharpedge portion of said sharp, and a posterior portion adapted for theinsertion of said blade thereinto said interior portion, and an exteriorportion containing said gripping means and at least one continuousviewing portal extending through the entire device on an axisperpendicular to said blades axis, said portal exposing said sharp edgeof said blade to ensure that there is an absence of contact and so as toeasily identify the type of blade being secured therein.
 7. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 6 where said anterior portion is a flat surface to facilitate thevertical placement of said device upon a horizontal surface.
 8. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 6 where said anterior portion has a curved surface.
 9. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 6 where said gripping means is selected from the group consistingof ribs, cross-hatching, knurling and textured surface.
 10. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 6 where said tang portion of said blade is exposed on all sides ofsaid blade and the entire tang is directly accessible to sharps handle.11. A sharps blade application and storage device for a single sharpsblade as in claim 10 where device is capable of being sterilized throughan autoclave, gamma radiation or ethylene oxide sterilization processwhile said blade is inserted into said device.
 12. A universal sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade whichsecures said blade in an orientation to allow for attachment to amounting handle, said sharps blade having a spine portion, a sharp edgeportion, a distal sharp point conjoining said spine portion to said edgeportion and a proximal tang portion comprising; an anterior portionbeing contoured to accept the finger and thumb of a user and where saidanterior portion contains gripping means and where said anterior portionhaving at least one resistive buttons, and an upper rail and a lowerrail defining the vertical extremes of said device, and an interiorportion having at least one series of sharps blade securement meanslocated for contact with only said spine of said blade and said tang ofsaid blade, and where the anterior portion of said device provides avoid space of no less than 0.035 inch between said sharp edge and saidinterior portion so as to prevent any contact between said interiorportion of said device and said sharp edge portion of said sharp duringstorage or removal of said sharp from said device, where said removal ofsaid sharps blade is accomplished by withdrawing said blade along anangular displacement path, and a posterior portion adapted for theinsertion of said blade thereinto said interior portion, and an exteriorportion containing said gripping means and at least one continuousviewing portal extending through the entire device on an axisperpendicular to said blades axis, said portal exposing said sharp edgeof said blade to ensure that there is an absence of contact and so as toeasily identify the type of blade being secured therein.
 13. A sharpsblade application and storage device for a single sharps blade as inclaim 12 where said device is designed to allow the user to separate theright side portion of said device from the left side portion of saiddevice along its longitudinal plane bisecting perpendicularly throughsaid upper rail and said lower rail, whereby one of said portions can bedetached from contact with other said portion and subsequently replacedwith securing means, thereby allowing the user to place a new sharpblade into said interior of said device while said portions are removed.14. A sharps blade application and storage device for a single sharpsblade as in claim 13 where said left side and said right side of saiddevice are attached by a living hinge.
 15. A sharps blade applicationand storage device for a single sharps blade as in claim 12 where saidanterior portion is a flat surface to facilitate the vertical placementof said device upon a horizontal surface.
 16. A sharps blade applicationand storage device for a single sharps blade as in claim 12 where saidanterior portion has a contoured surface.
 17. A sharps blade applicationand storage device for a single sharps blade as in claim 12 where saidgripping means is selected from the group consisting of ribs,cross-hatching, knurling and textured surface.
 18. A sharps bladeapplication and storage device for a single sharps blade as in claim 12where device is capable of being sterilized through an autoclave, gammaradiation or ethylene oxide sterilization process while said blade isinserted into said device.